At a special ceremony in The Exo Building in Dublin this morning, An Post unveiled a brand new set of stamps – honouring four legends of Irish music who we sadly lost last year: Aslan’s Christy Dignam, traditional musician and singer Séamus Begley, genre-defying star Sinéad O’Connor, and The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan.

Each act in this new Iconic Irish Voices series (set to be officially released tomorrow) have played a unique role in transforming the musical landscape of this country from the late 20th century into the 21st century – whether through deep-rooted traditional tunes, universally adored pop, or raucous rock.

An Post - Iconic Irish Voices launch. Photo: Miguel Ruiz

With the exception of Sinéad O'Connor, who previously featured as part of An Post's Irish Singer-Songwriters at Glastonbury stamp series, this new set marks the first time that most of these artists have appeared on a postage stamp – which is considered a highly prestigious honour in this country and beyond.

Today's launch was attended by family members of the artists – including Sinéad O'Connor's son Yeshua Bonadio, Shane MacGowan's wife Victoria Mary Clarke, Christy Dignam's daughter Kiera Dignam, and Séamus Begley's wife Máire Uí Beaglaoich.

An Post - Iconic Irish Voices launch. Photo: Miguel Ruiz

The Iconic Irish Voices set was designed by Shaughn McGrath, a Dublin creative who has worked extensively with U2, among other acts, for over three decades. In recent years, Shaughn has collaborated with An Post on several other stamp series, including Urban Art, Irish Singer-Songwriters at Glastonbury and U2: A Celebration.

This set is the latest in An Post's ongoing recognition and celebration of music's deep significance in the lives of Irish people – from its first musical series in the '80s, featuring the likes of Turlough O'Carolan, to more recent celebrations of The Cranberries (in the Great Irish Songs set), U2, Thin Lizzy, and Irish country stars such as Daniel O'Donnell and Nathan Carter.

Gerry Adams at the Iconic Irish Voices launch. Photo: Miguel Ruiz

The launch of the Iconic Irish Voices set is timely – coinciding with Irish Music Month 2024, a major initiative of Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, celebrating homegrown artists and their work.

For more information about the new Iconic Irish Voices set of stamps, see anpost.com 

An Post CEO David McRedmond and Kiera Dignam at the Iconic Irish Voices launch. Photo: Miguel Ruiz.